News of the Arroyo
Title: | U.S. to get proposal for Desiderio |
Subtitle: | Flexibility on final plans urged at hearing |
Date: | 2007-06-06 |
Summary: | June 6, 2007 - There still might be hope for an Arroyo Center for Art and the Environment in a remodelled Desiderio building on the banks of the Arroyo under the Colorado Street Bridge. |
Author: | Janette Williams, Staff Writer |
Publication: | Pasadena Star-News |
Content: | PASADENA - When the city\'s final proposal for the Desiderio Army Reserve Center goes to the federal government on Friday, it will be the concept approved by the City Council in April: that the 5.1 prime acres under the Colorado Street Bridge be used for affordable housing, park space and possibly an arts/environment community building. But since the Army won\'t be leaving for four years, at least two members of the City Council seem inclined to leave the door slightly ajar to rehabbing part of an on-site Army building for the Arroyo Center for Art and the Environment. Mayor Bill Bogaard said Tuesday it was \"only sensible to recognize the opportunity over the next five years for some flexibility.\" On Monday night, he said the proposal should go ahead \"so long as we don\'t write in anything that irrevocably prevents any modification ... and gives us the opportunity to take a fresh look in the next several years.\" Councilman Steve Madison, saying discussions had \"bogged down\" in unneeded details, said there was \"strong consensus that these three uses can work in that space.\" \"It\'s perhaps not necessary, or critical, that we identify exactly how we manifest that use years from now,\" said Advertisement Madison, whose district includes Desiderio. The council unanimously approved asking that 25 percent of the land be transferred to Habitat for Humanity for a nine-unit bungalow court and the remaining 75 percent to the city for parkland and a possible community building, both through a public benefit conveyance. City Manager Cynthia Kurtz told the council the federal government, which must approve the usage plans, didn\'t need such specifics as whether new or readapted construction would be used for a community building. \"The question is what we want to use this for,\" she said. \"We are at the very beginning of the process. The Feds want to work with the city of Pasadena on certain uses that we want to see on that site.\" Supporters of the arts/environment center were cautiously optimistic that the plan to cut about 100 feet from the main structure and rehab it as gallery and education space wasn\'t dead. \"I think the door was left open, and it\'s left some flexibility,\" said Tim Brick, executive director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation. The foundation has put forward a joint venture with The California Art Club that would convert an on-site building to a privately funded art/environment center. janette.williams@sgvn.com (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4482 |
Url: |